On 1/29/06, Stephen Colebourne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'd like to broaden the original [net] thread and ask how is commons > going to handle JDK1.5? Or in the case of [net], is a JDK1.4 branch > worthwhile? > > So far, commons has stuck with JDK 1.2/1.3 pretty much across the board. > This is because > a) JDK1.4 doesn't give that many benefits over 1.3 > b) a lot of people use 1.3 still (Websphere etc) > c) limited developer resource to manage multiple branches > > So, my proposal is that [net], and other commons projects jump from a > 1.2/1.3 base now, to a 1.5 base for the future. I believe that we are > now starting to see 1.5 move forwards, perhaps towards the tipping point > of much wider adoption. JDK1.5 can change radically the API design > through generic and enums and this gives the opportunity for new > development and new life to some of these projects. (New development > often attracts new committers) > > I can't comment on the specifics of the [net] case, but I'd like commons > as a whole to think seriously about how to handle the JDK1.5 issue. > > (As you may guess, my opinion is to skip 1.4 and go for 1.5 branches.) > <snip/>
As I indicated briefly before, IMO, we need to encourage 1.4 or Tiger branches. Its an indication that we are moving forward as a community rather than stagnating. We understand there are many people who have to use <= 1.3, many times for reasons beyond their control -- thats why so many of our components support those JDKs. While creating a branch to push up the JDK version, which version is chosen should be upto the developers creating the branch, I wouldn't want to rule out 1.4 if anyone sees value in it or is not ready to go to Tiger yet. I also think we shouldn't worry as much about the lack of developer resources. Its takes one developer to start a branch, and time will tell if it becomes successful and gets incorporated in a future (presumably major version) release of the component. If developers are willing, the fact that new ideas within a component require a higher JDK version should never be the *only* limiting factor for the introduction of these ideas. -Rahul > Stephen > > <snap/> --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
